From the desk of our Board President, Francisco Chavez:
Happy New Year! 2022 will be a year of innovation and creativity as board members and supporters of GMF continue their commitment to serving the students and campus of the Governor Morehead School. As new funding requests from the school come in, a fellow board member and I plan to present at a local Lions Club, and we want to hear from YOU regarding groups or organizations that we could collaborate with to double the impact and share ideas on how to enrich the lives and school experience for students at GMS. As we move into the third year of a pandemic, the board and I will think of creative and safe ways to stay in touch with students, staff, and supporters. Just because we’re staring at another year of uncertainty, it doesn’t mean we can’t be innovative and press forward with our mission.
ALUMNI CORNER
Dr. Ricky Scott, GMS alumnus, joined Vice President Kamala Harris at a Roundtable on Voting Access and Rights for People With Disabilities. Dr. Scott, who is blind, is a diligent advocate for and scholar of the rights of the disabled. He met with Vice President Harris and five other citizens with disabilities in Washington, D.C., last July. Dr. Scott graduated from the Governor Morehead School for the Blind in 1980, received his B.S. in Industrial Relations from UNC Chapel Hill in 1984, and his M.S. in Public Administration from UNC Charlotte in 1998. He completed his studies at NCSU, receiving his Ph.D. in Adult & Higher Education Administration in 2009.
Dr. Scott is pictured with Vice President Harris, on the left in a teal shirt.
FACULTY/STAFF MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Mr. Melvin Diggs, Jr. has been selected as the new school director for the Governor Morehead School for the Blind, effective January 17, 2022. Mr. Diggs has nearly two decades of experience in special education, supporting students with unique needs, including visual and hearing impairments. Over the course of his career, he has served as a teacher and administrator at the school, district, and state levels, and brings to his new role a range of experience in the areas of academic programming, strategic planning, policy, and partnership development. He has also demonstrated an ability to ensure financial stability while expanding services for students.
Mr. Diggs previously served as the executive director for exceptional children and academically/intellectually gifted programs for Chatham County Schools. North Carolina State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt said that GMS and its students will benefit from Mr. Diggs’ deep experience.
SCHOOL NEWS
NC State Design students who are members of a club called ‘Freedom By Design’ want to put their skills to good use to upgrade and modernize a playground on the GMS campus. The goal is to “use color and texture and innovative design to make the park safe and enjoyable for students with various levels of visual impairment.” The students don’t have a lot of experience putting their thoughts and skills into practice in a real-world setting, so they are super excited to be able to apply what they know and make a difference in their community. The students have set up a GoFundMe page, but are also looking to grants and other resources to help fund the project.
GMS is a proud recipient of a Youth Garden Grant from KidsGardening.org The Youth Garden Grant supports school and youth educational garden projects that enhance the quality of life for students and their communities. The GMS grant is valued at $2,200, and is scheduled to arrive just in time for spring! It includes, in addition to a cash grant, an indoor growing kit, seed kits, a mushroom kit, tools, fertilizer, and other supplies to support a gardening project.
FUNDRAISING
“Holiday Magic Under the Stars”, which GMF presented in partnership with Insightful Visionaries, was a successful fundraiser and a celebration of not only the season, but the blind and the visually impaired community as well. The event was full of fun entertainment including magic, a dance performance by Shaleigh Dance Works and GMS alumnus DJ Robinson, a musical performance by GMS Alumnus Gilbert Thomas, and a performance by Johnny White Featuring Shirl & Allegra performing Motown music. A silent auction and a raffle added to the night’s festivities.
We are incredibly grateful to everyone who donated to the Governor Morehead Foundation in any way during 2021. From attending our “Celebration” in July and our “Holiday Magic Under the Stars” in December, to buying ads/sponsorships and donating in any way, you enabled us to raise over $10,000, all of which will be used to enhance the school experience for the students of The Governor Morehead School. Thank you!
